Chapter 3: Isogai Steps In

Morning sunlight touched Tetsuhiro's face, coaxing his eyes open. He blinked, sat up, and looked groggily around him. Strange smells and sights surrounded him, but he realized that he was in Kunihiro's guest room as the fog dissipated from his mind. The bed was comfortable, surprisingly; Kunihiro had always preferred a firm mattress. The sheets were soft and crisp white to match the curtains. "For a straight man, he's always had good decorating sense," the young man thought, stretching and rubbing his tired eyes.

He had been crying for most of the night. The emotional strain of Souichi's rejection, coupled with the rush of feelings that he'd experienced when he'd had to come begging at Kunihiro's doorstep, had exhausted his spirit. The pillows still held evidence of his tears, and Tetsuhiro flipped them over to hide the drying stains.

For the first time in months, he spread his wings and allowed them to stretch. It felt exquisite. The ebony feathers ruffled as his wings flapped slightly, growing to their full size before he shrank them again and folded them against his back. It didn't take a great deal of effort to keep them hidden completely, but they ached from disuse. He raised his arms above his head, flexing his shoulders.

"Good morning," a voice turned his attention to the doorway. Masaki was standing there, looking a little sheepish.

"Oh, Masaki-san…" Tetsuhiro lowered his arms. "You're here early."

"Actually, I stayed the night…" Masaki blushed a little.

"I- I see…"

"It's nothing like that," Masaki said hurriedly. "I just wanted to make sure you were going to be OK. I heard you crying last night when you went to bed, so…"

"Ah. Well, I just…"

"I know. It's a lot to take in."

"Yeah…" Tetsuhiro sighed and sat down on the bed.

"I spoke with Kunihiro after you came up here. I told him he shouldn't have been so harsh on you."

"He's right, though," Tetsuhiro picked at his sleeve, balling up green lint between his fingers. "I don't know what I was thinking."

"You were upset. People make mistakes when they're upset… Even us."

"Yeah, try telling him that," Tetsuhiro laughed humorlessly. "The thought that angels can be as flawed as humans…"

"He knows it. He just doesn't want to acknowledge it."

Tetsuhiro wanted to change the subject. "Masaki-san, can I ask you something?"

"Hm?"

"Are you still in love with my brother? I know you said you weren't really, but…"

"I still don't know," Masaki said simply. He moved to sit next to Tetsuhiro, and put his arm around the younger man's shoulders. His golden wings spread out and tucked Tetsuhiro into a soft embrace. "Tetsuhiro, I know that we'll still be a little awkward around each other, but… Right now, may I just comfort you?"

Tetsuhiro gladly leaned on the offered shoulder. He wasn't ever one to turn down an offer of platonic affection.

VVVVV

Souichi sighed when he entered the apartment. Still empty. He'd wanted to wait until after school to check, but he'd been drawn to the place anyway. His lunch break was long enough to allow him this detour, and he made a sandwich in the kitchen—their kitchen—while he contemplated what to do.

He'd thought that Tetsuhiro would have come back by now, for sure. Yet the place was still empty. Tetsuhiro's bed was still neatly made, his shoes were still gone, and his cell phone was still on the coffee table where he'd left it…

Souichi's hand stilled over the bag of bread. Tetsuhiro's cell phone… It had his contacts programmed into it. Perhaps he was staying with one of those contacts.

Forgetting about his lunch, Souichi rushed to grab the phone and called the first number on the address list. "Hello, is this Akira? Morinaga's friend, right?"

Tetsuhiro had many more friends than Souichi had known. Some of them were from Fukuoka, as he found out, but many of the names were ones he recognized from school.

"Is Morinaga there?"

"You haven't seen Morinaga by any chance, have you?"

"If you see Morinaga, tell him that his senpai wants to talk to him."

"Tell that scum-sucking little coward that I'm coming after him no matter what!" Each call made Souichi more and more frantic. Nobody had seen him at all. When he got to "Hiroto", he was beginning to consider dialing Tetsuhiro's parents' number.

"What is it, Angel-kun?" a sing-song voice answered on the third ring.

"Angel-kun?"

"Er… Tetsuhiro-kun? Is that you?"

"No, this is Tatsumi. His senpai."

"Oh! Well, hello there!"

Souichi didn't like this melodic voice one bit. "You just answered my question. I guess you haven't seen him at all lately?"

"Hmm… Well, he came in here a few days ago, but since then I haven't seen him."

"C- came in… where?"

"My place."

"WHAT?!" Souichi's shout nearly reamed Hiroto's ears.

"Ow!" the redhead complained. "What gives?"

"He was at your place? Just who the hell are you! Why do you call him Angel, huh? That's an awfully weird name for a friend!" Souichi was furious now. This guy sounded like a fruit if he had ever heard one. Could it be that Tetsuhiro was seeing someone else?

"Wait… someone else? What am I thinking? He's not even seeing ME!"

"Jealous?" Souichi growled when his inner voice laughed smugly.

"Look, I don't know what you think about us, but we're not dating or anything like that," Hiroto was saying. "I tend the bar at Adamsite. He comes in a lot, and we used to work together. Angel-kun is just a nickname."

Even as Hiroto was explaining, Souichi was beginning to feel embarrassed. He hadn't meant to snap like that, though this Hiroto person didn't sound surprised at all. Souichi hung up as soon as he could without seeming too rude. He let out a long breath and leaned back against the couch. There were only four contacts left—his own, Tetsuhiro's parents, Kunihiro, and Masaki.

"Is he with Masaki now?" That thought stung. A lot.

"You'll never know until you call," the voice said.

Grudgingly, he called Masaki's number. The phone rang, but nobody answered. Souichi growled and threw the cell phone across the room angrily. "I guess he's busy. Maybe 'tied up'. Maybe by Mori-"

"Shut up," Souichi said aloud to that annoying little voice.

As tired as he was, Souichi fell into a light doze on the couch while contemplating his next move. He dreamed that Tetsuhiro came back, looking apologetic and begging for another chance. He beat the crap out of him. It was satisfying. He was just beginning to enjoy himself when the police showed up, pounding on the door.

He started, nearly leaping into a sitting position. There really was someone knocking on the door. His heart skipped a beat; maybe it was Tetsuhiro. He jumped up and almost tore the door off its hinges in opening it, but the person standing there was probably the last person he would have expected to see. "I- Isogai?!" He stared, his mouth hanging open slightly, at the smiling face in front of him.

"Hey, how's it going?" Isogai asked cheerfully. He let himself in, kicked off his shoes casually, and flopped down onto the couch. "Ah, still as cozy as ever!" he said, looking around. "Though it seems kinda empty. Mori-kun hasn't come back yet?"

"Huh?" Souichi still stood in front of the open door. Isogai shook his head.

"Now, Sou-kun, you should shut the door. It's a little chilly outside!"

Souichi did so, and then went to sit on the shorter sofa. "What are you doing here?" He couldn't believe Isogai was really in his living room. He had appeared like some evil fairy, blown in by a malevolent wind.

"Well, I heard you and your little kouhai were having some problems," Isogai said. "I'm here to help."

"How did you hear about that?"

"Kanako called me. She's really worried about you, you know!"

"I'm gonna kill that little brat!" Souichi thought furiously. Aloud, he said, "I should report you to the police, giving your number to a fourteen-year-old girl like that!"

"Now, Souichi, don't worry about it! We became good friends last time I visited. But what's important now is that I can help you! Kanako told me that Mori's disappeared."

"… Yeah. I haven't seen him for almost two days…" Souichi gripped the couch arm tightly. Why did it hurt so much to think about it?

"Where do you think he is?"

"How should I know?"

"I think I know."

Souichi eyed the smug man suspiciously. "How could you possibly know that? It's not like you know him that well."

Isogai just smiled at him. "I have ways of finding out. In fact, I've already checked. I know where he went, and probably where he's staying now."

"Well, then let's go!" Souichi was up and pulling his coat on already. "I wanna see that spineless little-"

"Whoa, wait a minute," Isogai held up his hands. "I can take you to him, but first I have to know… Do you love him?"

The question floored Souichi. He glared at Isogai. "What?"

"Do you love him? I have to know."

"Why? Does it really matter?"

"Well… yeah. The place he's staying now… I can't take you there unless you're sure you want to stay with him. If I take you there, you might regret it."

Souichi felt dread seeping up his spine. "Why?"

"Because once you know, there's no going back."

The researcher took a moment to consider the pros and cons. He didn't know the cons, but they were apparently pretty bad. As for the pros… He didn't know if he loved Tetsuhiro or not. All he knew was that he wanted him back. "Fine," he said at last, "take me to him."

Isogai grinned. "Let's go."

TBC